Background: There is a paucity of data on depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We designed an observational study to integrate these with functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in surviving LVAD patients.
Methods and results: Consenting patients between 1 month and 9 years after LVAD implantation (n = 121) were screened for functional capacity (World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 [WHODAS 2.0)]); HR-QOL (European Quality of Life [EQ-5D] and Visual Assessment Scales [EQ-VAS]), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale [GAD-7]) and post-traumatic stress disorder (Impact of Event Scale Revised [IES-R]). Of the 94% of patients who consented, 34.7% reported impaired functional capacity (WHODAS 2.0 score of ≥25%), 23.1%-34.7% HR-QOL problems (domain EQ-5D of ≥3), 10.7% "poor health" (EQ-VAS of ≤40), 14.9% depression (PHQ-9 of >14), 11.7% suicidal ideation and 17.5% anxiety (GAD-7 of >10). Among these patients, 23.5% had a positive screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (IES-R of ≥24). An EQ-VAS of 80 or greater predicted good functional capacity (P < .001).
Conclusions: One-third of discharged LVAD patients reported impaired function, HR-QOL, and psychological issues. A standardized evaluation before and after LVAD implantation could facilitate psychologic prehabilitation, inform decision-making, and identify indications for mental health intervention.
Keywords: Heart failure; functional capacity; quality of life; ventricular assist device.
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